Soon after entering mainstream school in September, the youngster was excluded as staff struggled to cope with his behaviour. In the ensuing months, West Molesey resident Mrs Ebblewhite took unpaid leave from her supermarket job to look after Liam. She is currently unemployed so she can fit her time around his schedule.

Mrs Ebblewhite battled to ensure Liam received at least 25 hours of education a week as opposed to the seven-and-a-half he was receiving at a satellite centre in Walton.

As a local authority, the county council is legally obliged not only to provide at least 25 weekly hours of teaching, but also to “provide suitable education for all permanently-excluded pupils from their sixth day of exclusion”, in line with the Education and Inspections Act of 2006.

As a result, Liam Ebblewhite, 11, started at the Sycamore Centre in Epsom – the only pupil referral unit in his SCC-appointed catchment area – earlier this month.

He had previously been denied entry into the school as his 16-year-old brother Shaun, who also suffers from ADHD, is already a pupil there and the school has a no-siblings policy.

“I am happy that Liam is finally getting an education,” Mrs Ebblewhite said. “But this could have been resolved four months ago – it cost £235 for the solicitor’s letter and I wouldn’t have been out of work for all that time.

“It’s not the Sycamore Centre’s fault. The council has changed its mind to suit itself and told the LEA to take Liam because it didn’t want to go to court.

“It’s a bit hypocritical and I have had no explanation at all why this has taken four months. Surrey County Council has really let my son down.”